20 (Practically Free) Date Night Ideas

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Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away. Do you have plans?

Growing up, Valentine’s Day wasn’t a holiday for my parents. Meaning, it wasn’t a holiday just for romantic love. We didn’t watch them get all dressed up, exchange flowers and chocolates and go off to a fancy dinner together. It was more of a day to remember all the people you love, in whatever form it might be. I’m not sure if my parents intentionally taught me to look at Valentine’s Day that way or if it just worked out like that, but it’s the same approach we’ve taken with our kids. They get to see Mom & Dad celebrate each other on our anniversary and then we all celebrate the people we love six days later. It works for us.

However, I’m a romantic at heart and a huge supporter of Date Night. So, I usually do try to do something with Mr Napping that’s a little more special at least a couple time a month. Something that says, “Hey, I thought about you today while I was doing the dishes and changing the bajillionth diaper.” Even if it’s something small. While you can definitely use these ideas on the 14th, you could really do most of them anytime.

AT HOME DATES:
– Movie Night In. Set up a snack bar with popcorn and different seasonings. The photo below is an affiliate link on Amazon to some of our favorite seasonings. I have seen individual bottles at Wal-Mart as well. Theme your popcorn bar however you want!

– Fondue Night. Slice up some fruit, grab a bag of marshmallows and a package of graham crackers. Heat up a bag of chocolate chips and you’re all set. Enjoy.
– Nerf Gun War. Grab some kitchen chairs and blankets to set up your bases, then it’s every man (or woman) for themselves. Our guns of choice are the basic Nerf N-Strike Nite Finder EX-3 (Affiliate link, click to see photo. I couldn’t get it to show up.).
– Game night. Pull out your favorite board and card games. Boot up the game console. Play hide & seek. You decide on the consolation prizes.
– At-home spa night. Use oils and lotions to give each other a massage. Soak in a bubble bath and enjoy a little bubbly (apple juice and sprite or 7up is a quick and cheap substitute for sparkling cider). Listen to music and read a magazine together (or read your own magazines). Enjoy each other.
– Mini golf. Set up your own course with things from around the house. Under chairs, over book ramps, around the kitchen island, under the dining room table, whatever you can come up with. Use small boxes on their sides or ceramic mugs as your “holes”. If you have access to a set of kids’ golf clubs, those work great. You can also use brooms, a pool noodle, or other toy as your clubs. Balls of various sizes would add a twist to the activity. Use what you have.

– Teach each other something. Show her how to change a flat or check the tire pressure. Introduce her to the power tools in the garage. Show him how to use the sewing machine. Or learn something new together. Half the fun is learning from your mistakes and figuring it out together.
– Build something. You can find a woodworking project to take on, make a quilt together, get that gallery wall hung you keep talking about.
– Lego Contest. Pull out the Lego collection and have a contest to see who can build the coolest car, the tallest tower, the biggest castle or whatever you can agree upon.
– Blanket Fort. Build a blanket fort together. The bigger and more extravagant, the better. Grab some take out and eat in your fort. Watch a movie, play a game or whatever else you can think of to do together in your fort.

– Go camping. In the living room. Roll out sleeping bags. Toast s’mores around the stove or make a fondue version by dipping graham crackers and marshmallows in melted chocolate. Take a pack of glow in the dark stars and make constellations on the wall.
– Try a new recipe together. Share some with friends or neighbors. Bring out your inner child and leave them doorbell ditch style with a fun little note.

DATES OUT:
– Sonic Slushie/Ice Cream Date. McDonald’s has $1 sundaes for a super cheap date out.
– Play at the park. Or in the snow. Depending on the time of year.
– Scavenger hunt. Choose a place to go together and make a list of things you might see. If you choose the mall, hunt for a woman with red fingernails, a baby with a sippy cup, and an elderly man in a suit jacket and the like. You could visit the bookstore, the pet store, the park, the library, a restaurant (enjoy a dessert together while you hunt).
– Hike/Nature Walk with a picnic.
– Fly a kite.
– Four-wheeling/ATV-ing or dirt biking. See if you can borrow equipment.
– Bicycle rides.
– Movie on the laptop. Find somewhere unusual to watch your movie. The park? The bookstore? On top of a mountain?
– Candle light dinner in the park (check fire restrictions). Or on a mountain top. Or on a friend’s front lawn. Clear it with your friends first, but don’t tell your sweetie. Just go set up your picnic on their front lawn.

Thanks for visiting! We actually did the mini golf date for our anniversary last weekend. It was lots of fun. I did splurge and get a toy golf club set, which my kids are now enjoying, but you could definitely do it for free!

Fun ideas!!! Love setting up dinner in a friends front lawn!! I’d be giggling so much I’d never get to romance!!(?)But just to read thi list makes a person realize, Take effort. Romance takes time. Planning. Effort. And it’s fun!!

I’m knee-deep in Tonka trucks & Thomas trains. I survive our crazy days with Vanilla Coke, Sonic slushies, sweet snuggles and little giggles. When I tuck them in tight & kiss them good night, I get a little time to create & just be me.